alby’s BFCM Playbook: How to Create a More Dynamic Holiday Shopping Experience with an AI Agent

Static Gifting Quizzes of the Past

For years, retailers have leaned on static gift finders and seasonal quizzes to help shoppers land on “the perfect gift”. The flows were familiar: Pick who you’re shopping for—mom, your sister, your friend who has it ALL. Now pick a persona—the outdoorsy one, the foodie, the world traveler.

But, people don’t fit neatly into boxes. Static quizzes try to squeeze shoppers into pre-set personas, but real people have unique mixes of tastes, interests, and needs that no decision tree can truly capture.

These rigid, one-size-fits-all flows rarely feel personal. And they often miss the mark. They spit out a handful of generic results that either happen to sort of work or fall completely flat. During the holidays, when shoppers are short on time and attention, this clunky experience won’t cut it anymore for shoppers.

Introducing a More Dynamic Way to Do Holiday Shopping

Today’s shoppers see through this experience. They want more control. They want to say, “I’m buying for my mother-in-law who loves pickleball but insists on staying chic,” and actually see options that make sense.

alby’s Product Advisor turns shopping into a simple, natural conversation. Instead of clicking through preset questions, shoppers can chat with the agent to get to the right set of recommendations. The agent asks the right questions, listens to the answers, and tailors the options in real time.

For brands, this means less operational overhead with no decision trees to build. Your team can spend less time troubleshooting quiz logic and more time focusing on the high-priority work that matters most during the busiest shopping weeks.

How It Works: Recreating the In-Store Holiday Magic Online

Holiday shopping is overwhelming. Shoppers go digital to escape the chaos of the malls, but they often lose the personal guidance of in-store shopping, especially when buying for others. alby’s Product Advisor brings that same magic to your site, turning gift hunting into a conversational experience.

We’ve put together a simple playbook to show how brands can create a more dynamic holiday shopping experience on their online stores:

Step 1: Kick Off the Conversation

Set the stage on your site with simple modules that invite shoppers to begin a chat with your AI shopping agent. alby offers flexible options that feel natural, seamless, and never intrusive. A few common entry points include:

• Single Button Embed: “Help me find the perfect gift.” A simple CTA to launch the flow.
• Guided Questionnaire: Start shoppers on a tailored buying journey based on their persona.
• Freeform Prompt: “Tell me about who you’re shopping for.” Great for users who want to dive straight into describing the recipient.

Step 2: Let the Conversation Flow

Once the flow starts, alby’s Product Advisor generates context-aware questions to guide shoppers through a natural conversation. Shoppers can provide as much context as they want around who they’re shopping for, what they’re looking for, and any other specifications.

Behind the scenes, every answer maps to real product filters in your catalog. Merchants don’t need to pre-define logic or manually build question trees. alby comes out-of-the-box with thoughtful, category-specific questions that you can tweak to match your brand.

Step 3: Recommend the RIGHT Products

Based on the conversation, alby surfaces curated product suggestions that match the shopper’s unique needs. This is where traditional quizzes usually stop, handing over a static list of recommendations that might work…or might not.

A huge unlock with AI agents is the ability to give feedback. Shoppers can say “not quite” and then switch up the style or features. The agent updates recommendations instantly, creating an interactive loop that keeps shoppers engaged and moving confidently toward the right product.

Why It Works

For Brands

Drive Conversion in a High-Stakes Season

The holidays are peak cart-abandonment time. Holiday shopping drives more abandon carts. A guided conversation helps shoppers narrow choices quickly, reduce decision fatigue, and move confidently to checkout.

Reduce Operational Complexity

Instead of building and maintaining rigid quizzes or logic trees, the right AI shopping agent can works right out of the box. Your team can create and fine-tune questions without long implementation cycles or high-touch management.

Deliver a Differentiated Experience

Most brands still rely on static gift guides. A conversational gift finder is actually useful, showing shoppers you value their time and building loyalty that lasts well beyond the holidays.

For Shoppers

Simpler Shopping 

The holiday rush is overwhelming for everyone. A guided conversation helps shoppers focus, cut through endless options, and land on the right gift faster.

Relevant Recommendations

People don’t fit neatly into boxes. Static quizzes force shoppers into generic personas, but real needs are more nuanced. An AI agent adapts to every answer, handling endless scenarios until it finds the right fit.

Shopping That Feels Human

The experience feels like chatting with a helpful store associate. It’s personal, conversational, and makes holiday shopping feel less like a chore and more like a win.